Recruit can't enroll early, de-commits from Trojans

USC's strange recruiting cycle took another twist Tuesday when four-star defensive end Kylie Fitts announced that he had de-committed from the Trojans.

Fitts' announcement was particularly surprising given that he already had signed scholarship papers and had been set to start classes next week, but USC recently determined it did not have room for Fitts as part of its early enrollment group.

Last week, the Trojans got a commitment from five-star safety Leon McQuay III, who is expected to enroll early and start classes next week. That led to Fitts being bumped out of the spring-enrollment class, which is limited because of USC's NCAA sanctions. USC asked Fitts to enroll in the summer, but Fitts de-committed.

Fitts' high school coach, Kurt Bruich, confirmed the story to the Riverside Press-Enterprise and said Fitts feels betrayed and that USC's request “seems shady to everyone.''

Fitts, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound lineman out of Redlands East Valley High, will still be recruited by USC and might ultimately choose the Trojans, but he will look at other schools. For various reasons, the Trojans have had five prospects de-commit since the start of November: Sebastian LaRue, Eldridge Massington, Max Redfield, Eddie Vanderdoes and Fitts. Vanderdoes is still considering USC.

USC's recruiting class is now at 14 players, and the Trojans are expected to have a top-five national class when signing day arrives Feb. 6.

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